In a strategic push to foster inclusive growth in Northeast India, SAP and IIMA Ventures have unveiled the North East Growth Labs (NEGL)—a new initiative aimed at scaling 75 impact-focused social enterprises across all eight Northeastern states. The program combines SAP’s enterprise ecosystem and Social Procurement agenda with IIMA Ventures’ incubation expertise to drive innovation in agri-tech, education, healthcare, livelihoods, and climate resilience.
NEGL aims to unlock the region’s entrepreneurial potential by enabling over 3,000 livelihoods and offering technical guidance, catalytic funding, and market access. Manish Prasad, President & MD, SAP Indian Subcontinent, emphasized that this initiative builds on their past support for over 100 social enterprises. Chintan Bakshi, Partner – Incubation at IIMA Ventures, described NEGL as a bold platform to empower entrepreneurs tackling India’s next wave of innovation.
The program kicked off with a high-impact bootcamp in Guwahati, where startups explored AI, B2B strategies, and storytelling for scale. Guwahati’s rising startup ecosystem has made it a critical launchpad, drawing attention from investors, government bodies, and global partners aiming to tap into Northeast India’s innovation potential.
Startups like Dream Hives, Chezfresco, and Greengen Agri Biotech headline the diverse and sustainability-driven NEGL cohort.
